Each year, students across Leander ISD may face placement in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) for violations of the Student Code of Conduct.
DAEP assignments may significantly impact your child's academic progress, extracurricular participation, college opportunities, and future career paths. You've worked hard to provide good opportunities for your child—whether college, vocational training, or entering the workforce, and a DAEP assignment can derail these plans and create unexpected challenges.
Leander Independent School District (LISD) serves a diverse range of families through its educational programs. Leander ISD, with administrative offices located at 204 W. South Street, Leander 78641, serves as the governing body responsible for enforcing its disciplinary policies. Understanding how these policies apply to your child's situation can help you take the right steps to avoid DAEP placement. In many cases, students are referred to DAEP because of miscommunication or hasty decisions made under pressure.
If your child is facing possible DAEP placement, do not try to manage this serious issue alone. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team, operating from its nearest office in Austin, Texas, helps families in Leander and across Texas to fight unfair school discipline decisions. Call 888-535-3686 today or complete this online form.
Understanding DAEP in Leander ISD
When Leander schools decide a student needs DAEP placement, families must respond quickly. These measures exceed ordinary school discipline. In Leander ISD, students assigned to DAEP attend the Leander Extended Opportunity Center (LEO Center). DAEP placement often hinders academic progress, reduces future college admission prospects, and creates lasting psychological effects for students.
Parents with children in Leander ISD should know several critical facts regarding alternative educational placements:
- A DAEP assignment takes students out of their home school. This means they leave their teachers, classmates, and usual classes behind.
- DAEP placement creates more problems than just changing classes. Many students face fewer course options, lost academic credits, and graduation delays.
- Students sent to DAEP cannot join sports teams, school clubs, or after-school programs. This separation makes returning to normal school life difficult.
- The limited curriculum at the LEO Center means students miss specialized courses and advanced classes available at their regular campus.
- Leander ISD does not provide transportation to DAEP. This creates additional challenges for working parents.
Once a student is placed in DAEP, reversing the decision becomes much harder.
Why Students Face DAEP Placement
Students in Leander ISD enter disciplinary alternative programs under varied circumstances. Texas laws require student removal for serious violations, and some cases depend on administrative judgment. Some transfers cannot be avoided by any means, and others deserve attention as they may be unfair, excessive, or avoidable with the right legal help.
Because Leander ISD's Student Code of Conduct gives school administrators broad discretion, some students may face DAEP while others receive only minor consequences for the same behavior.
Schools in Leander ISD Affected by DAEP
Leander ISD policy permits DAEP placement for students from any school when school leaders deem it necessary. This affects students at all district schools - high schools, middle schools, and elementary campuses throughout Leander.
High Schools:
- Leander High School
- Vista Ridge High School
- Cedar Park High School
- Vandegrift High School
- Glenn High School
- Rouse High School
- New Hope High School
- Early College High School
Middle Schools:
- Cedar Park Middle School
- Henry Middle School
- Running Brushy Middle School
- Canyon Ridge Middle School
- Leander Middle School
- Stiles Middle School
- Danielson Middle School
- Wiley Middle School
- Four Points Middle School
Elementary Schools:
- Akin Elementary
- Bagdad Elementary
- Block House Creek Elementary
- Brushy Creek Elementary
- Cedar Park Elementary
- Cox Elementary
- Cypress Elementary
- Deer Creek Elementary
- Faubion Elementary
- Giddens Elementary
- Knowles Elementary
- Mason Elementary
- Naumann Elementary
- Plain Elementary
- Pleasant Hill Elementary
- Reagan Elementary
- Reed Elementary
- River Place Elementary
- River Ridge Elementary
- Rutledge Elementary
- Steiner Ranch Elementary
- Westside Elementary
- Whitestone Elementary
- Winkley Elementary
- Camacho Elementary
- Grandview Hills Elementary
- Hisle Elementary
- Larkspur Elementary
- Laura Welch Bush Elementary
- North Elementary
- Parkside Elementary
- Tarvin Elementary
Understanding the specific schools and boundaries within Leander is crucial for parents and students, as policies, programs, and resources can vary throughout the district.
How the DAEP Placement Process Works in Leander ISD
The DAEP placement process follows a structured series of steps that begin with an alleged incident and lead to a final placement decision. Parents need to understand how this process unfolds to recognize when and how they can challenge an unfair assignment.
Incident and Initial Report
DAEP procedures start when school staff document rule-breaking. Teachers, principals, or staff kick off this process when they spot students breaking Leander ISD rules. The school creates official paperwork describing what happened.
- Staff often collect witness statements quickly, but they may overlook the student's side of the story. Unfortunately, the student's side of the story is often heard after decisions are already in motion.
- School administrators or officials have the option of settling the offense as either discretionary or mandatory. This decision is guided by the district's policy, which outlines when a DAEP placement is required or discretionary.
Administrative Investigation
Once the report is filed, school leaders will decide if students go to DAEP. How deeply the school investigates depends on the nature of the alleged misconduct.
- The school may question the student without a parent present.
- Administrators will review evidence, including security footage if it's available.
- The school decides if DAEP is needed before notifying parents.
- Sometimes, schools rush through disciplinary reviews. They gather little evidence and reach unfair conclusions. Each campus has discretion in how it handles discipline, which means similar behavior may lead to different outcomes. This means rules are applied differently at different schools in the district.
Parent Notification of DAEP Placement
Once the school decides on a DAEP assignment, it sends official paperwork to parents. This document explains:
- Which school rule was broken?
- How long must the student attend DAEP?
- The start date for the DAEP placement and the exact building location.
Due Process Conference
Parents meet with school officials before DAEP starts. This meeting lets them question the decision and share information that helps their child.
During this meeting, parents can:
- Review all documents related to the incident and examine the evidence the school has gathered.
- Identify any inconsistencies or gaps in the school's version of events.
- Provide additional evidence, such as witness statements or mitigating circumstances.
- Argue for a lesser consequence if DAEP seems excessive for the alleged offense.
It's common for parents to feel pressured during this meeting. Schools often present the placement as a done deal, but it can still be appealed.
Appeal Process
Parents can appeal the decision if Leander ISD keeps the DAEP placement after the due process conference. This must be done within a few days of the decision:
- The appeal must be submitted in writing to the district.
- Parents must state specific reasons why the placement is unfair or excessive.
- Supporting documentation, such as school policy violations or procedural errors, should be included.
Once a DAEP placement is finalized, it becomes much harder to reverse, so it is critical to challenge it as early as possible.
What to Do If Your Child is Assigned to DAEP in Leander ISD
The arrival of DAEP paperwork creates stress for families. Most parents feel blindsided by this news. While the district presents this as settled, parents hold the right to contest placement. Acting fast matters greatly. Steps taken during the first 48 hours often determine final outcomes for students facing disciplinary action.
Review the DAEP Placement Notice Carefully
When Leander ISD issues a DAEP notice, parents should take the time to go over the details.
You'll want to identify the following:
- The specific rule violation cited.
- Which section of the Student Code of Conduct applies?
- Verify that the notice clearly states the placement duration, start date, and facility location where your child must report.
Check your DAEP notice for information about your rights during this process. The document should clearly explain who to contact for requesting hearings and which specific forms you need to complete. It must state exact deadlines for taking action before you lose your appeal rights. The notice should also clarify whether you can bring legal representation to meetings with school officials.
In the rush to send these notices, school officials often make mistakes—missing details, giving vague directions, or overlooking important information. In contrast, when you get your documentation wrong, this can be a strong weapon for your child to contest the alternative education offered, especially when working with an education attorney who can spot these errors and challenge how the school handled the process.
Request a Copy of the Incident Report and All Evidence
After receiving the DAEP notice, parents should immediately contact school leadership. Ask them for all documentation related to the incident. The district holds paperwork that describes what occurred, based on the school's account. Most schools keep witness statements from anyone who saw the incident. Security cameras might show what actually occurred rather than what reporters stated.
The evidence-gathering process often reveals mistakes that help challenge unfair DAEP placements.
What Happens at a DAEP Placement Meeting?
Leander ISD must allow parents to attend a formal meeting before deciding on DAEP placements. This meeting presents a key opportunity to present evidence, challenge inaccuracies, and request more lenient disciplinary actions.
When going to this hearing, parents should bring a few items and be ready to take specific actions:
- Keep personal copies of all documentation that relates to the incident.
- Ask administrators to explain their specific reasons for choosing DAEP placement.
- Bring materials that back up your child's case. This can be letters from teachers, stories about events, or times when school rules were not followed.
- Inquire about other possible disciplinary approaches.
Many campus administrators suggest that alternative education is the only choice. However, school policy usually permits different interventions. Parents should ask if school detention, supervised behavior plans, or other mild consequences could handle the situation well.
DAEP Appeals - What Parents Must Do
For families challenging school DAEP decisions, quick action matters. Missing district deadlines ruins chances for placement changes.
Take these steps when appealing:
- Get the official paper showing why your child goes to DAEP and for how long.
- Collect all papers showing your side: Incident reports, what witnesses say, school rules, and records helping your child.
- Write and send your appeal letter before time runs out, telling why this decision seems wrong or too harsh.
- Provide additional evidence: If the school failed to consider self-defense, procedural errors, or mitigating circumstances, these should be highlighted in the appeal.
- Follow-up with district administrators: Parents may need to attend an appeal hearing to present their case.
What Happens Next in Your DAEP Appeal
When Leander ISD reviews your appeal package, district officials examine all aspects of the case. After completing their evaluation, they will reach one of these decisions:
- Your child returns to regular school, so the district cancels the DAEP placement entirely.
- Your child goes to DAEP for less time - they reduce the days assigned to an alternative placement.
- Your original DAEP assignment stays the same - they reject your appeal reasons.
Many parents accept DAEP placement as unchangeable, but this assumption proves incorrect. When families submit appeals backed by strong evidence, such as policy violations or procedural mistakes, they often succeed in shortening or overturning the placement.
How the Lento Law Firm Defends Leander ISD Students
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team knows that DAEP placements represent a major challenge to the students in Leander ISD. Most parents only learn about a DAEP decision after it's already been made, without being invited to give input first. This raises serious concerns about the student's academic future and long-term success. When a DAEP placement is proposed, parents must act quickly to protect their child's education. Taking fast action can help protect their child's educational rights.
Leander ISD's DAEP placement notifications need immediate attention from families. These decisions affect far more than academics—they also disrupt activities, college planning, and the student's entire educational experience. Despite what many families are told during initial meetings with school officials, these disciplinary decisions remain contestable through proper procedures. The district must follow specific protocols, and failure to adhere to these requirements creates opportunities for successful appeals.
This is how the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team helps families in Leander with DAEP placements:
- Reviewing disciplinary reports for errors, inconsistencies, and procedural violations. This ensures that no unjust or incorrect information is used to keep a student out of their regular school.
- Guiding parents through the appeal process to fight DAEP placements. With a solid plan and legal help, parents can boost their chances of reducing or reversing the DAEP assignment.
- Looking for ways to keep students in regular educational settings whenever possible. Educational lawyers present strong cases for school-based consequences instead of disruptive DAEP assignments.
- Ensuring that schools follow state laws and district policies when assigning DAEP placement. Schools don't always enforce rules fairly. Holding them accountable protects students from harsh or unfair discipline.
- Finding Errors in the Process: Sometimes, schools make small mistakes during a disciplinary case. We take time to look through the paperwork and records to find those issues. Even small problems in how the school handled things can help you challenge a DAEP placement.
- Questioning Unclear or Missing Evidence: Schools need real facts to send a student to DAEP, not guesses or pressure from staff. If the school uses weak reports, gets the story wrong, or relies on secondhand statements, we step in to make sure decisions are fair and based on what really happened.
Do not wait to act. Schools quickly enforce DAEP placements, and they limit appeal windows. The sooner you act, the better the chances of preventing or reducing the assignment.
A DAEP placement does not have to define your child's future. With the right legal strategy, students can challenge unfair assignments and stay in their regular school. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team knows the Leander ISD disciplinary process and will work hard to keep your child's education on track.
Call 888-535-3686 today or contact us online to discuss your child's case and explore your options.
